Parlor bowling game



Sept. 9, 1952 c. H. GOODYEAR 2,610,055 PARLOR BOWLING GAME Filed July 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l C. J6. Goody ea r R ATTORNEYS C- H- GOODYEAR PARLOR B OWLING GAME Sept. 9, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1949 H m A W r M O F M a m 3 y d v w k m R an m C WN WI I g g/ i/// /f y l///l/;/ I Wm Q p 1952 c. H. GOODYEAR PARLOR BOWLING GAME 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 26, 1949 Zlwvwvfm C. .76. Goodyear Mimi 3 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 9, 1952 PARLOR BOWLING GAME Charles H. Goodyear, Stockton, Calif. Helen w. Goodyear, executrix of said Charles H. Goodyear, deceased Application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,820

2 Claims.

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, a small size or portable bowling game especially designed, but not limited, for use indoors for amusement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a parlor bowling game which is adapted to be mounted on and supported by a conventional card table; the game including an elongated alley assembly turnable on a platform which rests on the card table whereby the game may be selectively and properly positioned in front of and played by each of a number of persons seated in a circle about the card table.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a parlor bowling game which includes several novel attachments for use in playing varied bowling games which have been termed blind bowling, "precision bowling, and billiard bowling, all of which are hereinafter described.

A further object of the invention is to provide a parlor bowling game wherein the supporting platform is sectional and detachable whereby when the game is not in use, such sections of the platform, together with other detachable parts, may be stored in the elongated alley assembly for convenience and compactness.

A separate object of the invention is to provide a parlor bowling game which is of relatively light weight but sturdy construction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a parlor bowling game which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical and highly amusing parlor bowling game, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structur and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel, parlor bowling game as supported for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front end elevation showing particularly the detachably mounted writing board for a score pad or the like.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the alley assembly as fitted with the upstanding transverse sight baffle for blind bowling.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section of the alley assembly as fitted with the baffle unit employed for precision bowling.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the alley assembly as fitted with the transversely spaced, upstanding longitudinal deflectors used for billiard bowling.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-43 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective View of the rectangular platform detached, but with the sections thereof engagement.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the rectangular platform, with the sections thereof separated.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation through the platform and supported alley assembly showing the trunnion about which said alley assembly turns on the platform.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the novel, parlor bowling game comprises an elongated, horizontal alley assembly, indicated generally at E such alley assembly comprising a flat bottom 2, upstanding longitudinal sides}, and an upstanding, transverse rear end 4. The sides 3 and rear end 3 are of substantial height at the receiving or rear end portion of the device; the sides 3 being reduced in height through an intermediate portion, and being further reduced in height at the front end portion thereof.

A fiat elongated alley forming board 5 is fixed on the bottom 2, and extends along the alley assembly i from adjacent its front end to a point adjacent, but short of, its rear end whereby to form, at the latter, a transverse end gutter 6.

The alley board 5 is of substantially lesser width than the bottom 2, being symmetrically disposed on the latter and thus forming longitudinal side gutters l.

A cross strip 8 at the front end of the alley assembly blocks the adjacent ends of the side gutters i, so that relatively small bowling balls 9 stored in such gutters l at their front end portions cannot escape.

When the game is in use, the elongated alley assembly I is supported, intermediate its ends, by a rectangular platform, indicated generally at 10; such platform including flanged right angle corner locators II which depend from the under side of said platform for locating engagement with the corners of a top I2 of a conventional card table on which said platform removably rests; such card table including, as usual, supporting legs l3.

The rectangular platform It) is comprised of two initially separate half sections l4 and I5 which are detachably secured together with adjacent edges in abutment, as follows:

A flushing strip I6 is secured on the under side of the section 14 in position to extend across said adjacent edges, and to lap a near portion of the section l5; the strip I6 having a dovetailed notch 11 therein for the reception, in matching relation, of a dovetail block I8 on the section I5. When the dovetail block I8 is engaged in the notch I'I, the sections I4 and I5 of the platform It are held against lateral separation when said platform rests on a top I2 of a card table.

Centrally of its ends and sides the elongated alley assembly is turnably but removably secured in connection with the rectangular platform I0, substantially centrally of the latter, by means of a trunnion I9 which upstands from such platform and engages in a downwardly opening bore 2!] in the bottom of said alley assembly.

With the alley assembly thus mounted it rests in stable relation on the platform Ill, but is readily rotatable about the trunnion [9 as an axis whereby said alley assembly may be turned to selectively position the front end thereof adjacent any one of a number of persons seated about the card table in a circle. The persons are seated in such circle so that each person is directly opposite another, whereby when the alley assembly I is turned with the front end adjacent one person as a player, the rear end of the device is adjacent the opposed person; the latter acting as the pin boy.

The person who acts as the pin boy sets the pins 2I on the rear end portion of the alley board in predetermined positions represented by indicia 22. Extra pins, or those which may be knocked down, are set aside in a pin holding tray 23 which projects laterally from one side of the alley assembly adjacent its rear end; such pin holding tray including holes 24 for the reception of the pins, Another board or table 25 is disposed at theopposite or head end of the alley to support a score pad or the like.

The writing board 25 is detachably mounted, in connection with the adjacent side 3, by transversely spaced longitudinal cleats 26 which are fixed in connection with, and depend from, said writing board to straddle, with frictional engagement, over said side 3. The pin holding tray 23 is similarly removably mounted.

A cross bar 21 is connected between the sides 3 at the top thereof a predetermined distance from the front end of the alley board 5; such cross bar being spaced above the alley board a distance greater than the diameter of the bowling ball 9, whereby the latter may roll underneath said cross bar. The purpose of the cross bar 2'! is to prevent a player from reaching forward more than a limited distance before releasing a bowling ball.

When the alley assembly I is in use, the game may be played in generally the same manner as conventional bowling; the bowling balls 9 being rolled, one at a time, down the alleyboard 5 in an attempt to strike and known down the pins 2| as set up on-the indicia 22. The alley assembly I is turned step by step to permit successive persons to play the game while retaining their seats, with the opposed person servingas previously indicatedas pin boy.

In order to add variance to the game, and to enhance the amusement thereof, the invention contemplates the employment of attachments to the alley assembly I, as follows: 7

For the purpose of playing blind bowling, which is a game wherein the player cannot see the set-up pins 2 I, an upstanding, transverse sight baffle-28 is employed, as in Fig. 3. The sight bafiie 28 is mounted intermediate the ends of the alley assembly and is fitted, at opposite ends,

with end posts 29 which removably engage in vertical notches 30 in opposite sides 3 of the alley assembly. The sight bafile 28 is of sufficient height that it blocks the view of the player with respect to the set-up pins 2|. The lower edge 3| of the sight baflie 28 is spaced above the alley board 5 a distance to provide a passageway 32 of sufficient height to permit a bowling ball 9 to roll beneath said sight bafiie.

Another variance of the game is what may be termed precision bowling, and for this purpose the attachment shown in Fig. 4 is used intermediate the ends of the alley assembly.

Here a cross bar 33 extends above the alley board 5 a distance to permit a bowling ball to roll beneath said cross bar; the latter having transversely spaced ball baiiles 34 depending therefrom whereby to form a central, ball passageway 35 of limited extent transversely of the alley board 5 centrally of the sides of the latter. The cross bar 33 is supported by depending end posts 36 which removably engage in the vertical notches 30 of the sides 3.

To play precision bowling the player must roll each bowling ball 9 with great precision in order that such ball roll through the passageway 35 and thence travel on for striking engagement with the set-up pins 2|.

A still further variance of the game is known as billiard bowling, wherein, as in Figs. 5 and 6, the alley board 5 is fitted, intermedate its ends and on opposite sides, with upstanding longitudinal deflectors 3'! detachably secured to the alley board along opposite edges by depending pegs 38 which engage in selected holes 39 of rows of the latter formed in said board along such edges.

Each of the upstanding longitudinal defiectors 31 has a heavy-duty elastic band 4% surrounding the same horizontally; such band 45 being disposed at a height for engagement by a ball rolled in the direction of the related deflector 31. The purpose of such elastic band 40 on each deflector Si is to add resiliency and to enhance rebound.

In playing this variance of the game, the

player casts a bowling ball from the forward end portion of the alley assembly toward one of the deflectors 31, from which said ball caroms or billiards, and thence continues down the alley board 5 in the direction of the set-up pins 2|. By requiring a billiard or carom, greater skill is required to strike and upset the pins ZI with a bowling ball. With the above described game, either played conventionally or in the described variations, great amusement can be had for a number of persons; the game being practical and convenient to use.

When the game is not in use, the alley assembly I is removed from the platform- It! and the sections of the latter are separated and placed in such alley assembly for storage. Additionally, the pin holding tray 23 and writing board 25 are detached and placed in the alley assembly,

whereby all of the parts can be carried within the latter and stored in compact relationship with the same.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired: 1

l. A parlor bowling game comprising, with an alley assembly which includes an elongated bottom board having a flat under surface, a platform separate from the board adapted to be supported on a table, and a pin upstanding from the platform substantially centrally of its area. the bottom board resting flatly on said platform and having a pin receiving socket substantially centrally of its area; the platform comprising a pair of sections of substantially equal size in one of which the pin is mounted, and means interlocking the sections together while holding them against relative horizontal separation.

2. A parlor bowling alley assembly including an alley board having upstanding side members secured laterally out from the side edges of the board to leave ball-return gutters therebetween, and a vertical transverse baflle unit removably mounted on the assembly intermediate its ends and comprising a top bar extending between the side members, depending end posts on the bar removably engaging and located in the side members without obstructing the gutters, and spaced baflie boards depending from the top bar adjacent to and across the alley board only.

CHARLES H. GOODYEAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 175,495 Pottin Mar. 28, 1876 450,883 Davey Apr. 21, 1891 511,306 Moore Dec. 19, 1893 596,089 Patterson Dec. 28, 1897 632,406 Fox Sept. 5, 1899 820,310 Norem 1 May 8, 1906 884,605 McEvoy Apr. 14, 1908 1,044,309 Waldo Nov. 12, 1912 1,077,807 Cook Nov. 4, 1913 1,360,661 Malone Nov. 30, 1920 2,211,470 Kissinger Aug. 13, 1940 2,230,874 Wenneis Feb. 4, 1941 2,252,451 Anderson Aug. 12, 1941 2,466,103 Hiester Apr. '5, 1949 

